New parking regs downtown

Vibrant cities have vibrant downtowns, and investment in the cultural and civic heart of Kelowna continues to drive growth. This vibrancy means more people than ever are downtown on all days of the week and longer into the evenings, so the City is taking steps to improve short-term parking availability for visitors.

“Starting this upcoming weekend, City crews will start implementing changes to downtown parking by installing updated signage and re-programming equipment,” says Dave Duncan, Parking Service Manager. “We ask the public to ensure they check signage and messaging on pay stations when parking downtown.”

first changes in the downtown area will apply to on-street stalls located closest to the waterfront – identified as “Zone A” – where new seasonal rates will be implemented and pay parking hours extended to 9 p.m. to manage turnover. As well, pay parking hours will be reduced at the Chapman, Library and Memorial parkades, and on-street parking time restrictions will increase from two hours to three hours.

“Our intent with these changes is to improve availability of short-term parking and ensure the parking system is paid for by those who use it rather than by general taxation,” adds Duncan. “Although rates and pay parking hours will increase in some on-street areas, the increase in no-charge parking hours at all three downtown parkades will help balance this change."

Offering more no-charge parking hours at parkades will help shift longer term parkers away from the streets. Parkades are typically underutilized during evenings and weekends. Security imporvements at parkades continue to be made, including installation of security cameras monitored 24/7, as well as improvements to lighting.

Kelowna is growing, and these parking changes are a step forward in accommodating that growth. Changes are part of the updated Downtown Area Parking Plan, which was approved by Council in July 2019 and developed over a two-year period through consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders. Further changes will be implemented throughout 2019.

To learn more about parking in Kelowna and see current parkade availability, visit kelowna.ca/parking.

On September 13, at approximately 1:00 a.m., RCMP received a complaint of a male jumping in a front of a vehicle along Westside Road near Bear Creek Provincial Park and tried to hit the vehicle with an object.